Posts from September 2008

I just installed the new iTunes8. It has a new feature called Genius Playlist (which I blogged about here). I was flipping through my library and accidentally clicked on an old Alan Parson project tune. While I'm very much into modern electronica, I do have a small collection of Prog Rock :^).

The Genius Bar recommended Gary Wright's "Dream Weaver". I thought to myself, man, that's such a classic synth song and I hadn't heard it in a long, long time.

This performance is fantastic in that they perform live without backing tracks. Just a handful of people covering all the parts. No backing tracks, or pitch correction here. Just Gary Wright playing some keys and belting out the song into an SM58 mic.

Apple announced a new iPod Touch, a new line of Nano's called nano-chromatic, and an update to iTunes. I've waded through the online announcement and have created a summary of what's new over on my other blog www.consciousendeavor.net.

The cool thing about this collection of drum presets is that they are not samples but Operator synth presets. For the most part the installer integrates presets inside of existing folders so finding all the presets can be tricky. In this article I'll walk you through installing and finding presets and offer usage tips.

OPERATOR OVERVIEW

For those unfamiliar, Operator is an add-on synth you can buy from Ableton's web site. If you already own Live, it will cost you EUR 129/USD 159. Ableton is running a promotion for new users that's pretty amazing - Buy Live, Get Operator for Free.

OVERVIEW OF DESIGNER DRUMS

Ableton's blurb.

We're giving all Operator fans some "Designer Drums", a free Live pack with brand new Operator presets. It features classic analog drums, a number of innovative percussive sounds and dedicated drum racks forinstant and intuitive beat-making.

From the file menu select "Install Live Pack..." and specify the DesignerDrums_v01.alp.

The install requires 24.7 MB.

FINDING THE DRUMRACKS, CLIPS, AND INDIVIDUAL OPERATOR PATCHES

The kit presets are implemented as Drum Racks. They are not installed in their own folder called "Designer Drums" and are instead integrated into "Instruments-> Drum Rack -> Kit" and the new presets are labeled with "(Operator)" in the end of the name. See example on the left.

There are a series of clips saved as live sets in "Library -> Clips -> Designer Drums".

The individual Operator patches that make up the drum racks are again integrated within existing folders in "Presets -> Instruments". For example, there are two 808 high-hat presets (open and closed) at "Presets -> Instruments -> Drum Rack -> Cymbal -> Hihat-808(Operator)".

DRUM RACK NOTES

Most of the Drum Rack presets place Devices in a cluster around the same set of 16 locations which is fantastic if you are using a controller like a Trigger Finger. The Kick, Snare, Hihat Open, Hihat closed are in the same position for most kits which I really appreciate since I like to hot swap kits.

IN CLOSING

Operator had been around a long time and I've always liked it. This Live Pack really shows off the range of sounds that can be produced from Operator. Once you start working with the presets you'll be amazed at the amount of work that went on behind the scenes to create this Live Pack. Thanks Ableton!

Native Instruments has dropped the price of Kore2 to 399 /$449 from 499 / $559. They have also introduced a new software-only version without the KORE 2 Controller. This verison is priced at 199 / $229.